Breakdown of Das Licht flackert im Flur, weil die Lampe nicht funktioniert.
in
in
dem
the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
nicht
not
weil
because
funktionieren
to work
das Licht
the light
der Flur
the hallway
die Lampe
the lamp
flackern
to flicker
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Questions & Answers about Das Licht flackert im Flur, weil die Lampe nicht funktioniert.
Why is das Licht neuter?
German nouns have grammatical genders that must be memorized. Licht happens to be a neuter noun, so it takes the article das in the nominative case.
Why do we say im Flur instead of in dem Flur?
Im is simply the contraction of in dem, which you use when in expresses location (where?) with a masculine or neuter noun in the dative case. Since Flur is masculine and you’re saying “in the hallway,” you need dative dem Flur, so in dem Flur becomes im Flur.
Why does the verb flackert come right after Das Licht?
In a German main clause, the finite verb always occupies the second position. Here Das Licht is the first element, so flackert must follow it immediately.
Why is there a comma before weil?
Subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like weil (because) are always separated from the main clause by a comma in German.
Why is funktioniert at the very end of the sentence?
Because weil introduces a subordinate clause, German word order pushes the finite verb to the end of that clause. Hence die Lampe nicht funktioniert.
Can we start with the weil–clause and still say the same thing?
Yes. If you place the subordinate clause first, you still use a comma and then follow the verb-second rule in the main clause:
Weil die Lampe nicht funktioniert, flackert das Licht im Flur.
What’s the difference between flackern and flimmern?
Both mean “to flicker,” but flackern usually suggests an irregular, jerky flicker (like a faulty bulb), whereas flimmern can imply a more continuous, shimmering or wavering light (like heat haze or a candle in the breeze).